(UPM, Helsinki, 21 May 2013 at 12:00 EET) – UPM and students from Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences are building a Biofore concept car utilising UPM’s innovative biomaterials as main raw material for many parts and components. Together with Metropolia, UPM is now able to test the use of renewable biomaterials in automotive applications. The engineering and industrial desing students of Metropolia desing, manufacture and test the car. The project is a cooperation of several organizations, including also the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation.

“For our students, it is a valuable experience to achieve such a target after several years of focused work. This kind of cooperation project makes is possible.” says Pekka Hautala, Technology Manager from Metropolia.

The Biofore concept car is designed following the principles of sustainability and recyclability.“UPM creates value from renewable and recyclable materials by combining the expertise and technologies from fibre-based, energy-related and engineered materials businesses. With our breakthroughs, various industries can now replace fossil components with biomaterial-based alternatives without compromising quality, durability or safety”, says Juuso Konttinen, Vice President, New Businesses & Development, UPM.

In the concept car many traditionally plastic parts are made of UPM Grada thermoformable wood material and UPM ForMi cellulose fibre biocomposite. Both UPM Grada and UPM ForMi bring considerable environmental benefit in the overall lifecycle of modern vehicle manufacturing. The concept car will be driven with UPM BioVerno woodbased renewable diesel. UPM’s label materials will be used to mark spare parts as well as in the interior and exterior design. The concept car will be manufactured to be a street-legal vehicle and will be finalized during spring 2014.

UPM leads the integration of bio and forest industries into a new, sustainable and innovation-driven future. Our products are made of renewable raw materials and are recyclable. UPM consists of three Business Groups: Energy and pulp, Paper, and Engineered materials. The Group employs around 22,000 people. We are present in 67 countries and have production units in 17 countries. UPM's annual sales exceed EUR 10 billion. UPM's shares are listed on the Helsinki stock exchange. UPM – The Biofore Company – www.upm.com